Syndicate

Lentenor, a 4-year-old full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, is scheduled to make his Tampa Bay Downs racing debut in Friday’s seventh race, an allowance/optional claiming event at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf for 3-year-olds and up.

Sired by Dynaformer and out of the mare La Ville Rouge (by Carson City), Lentenor turned in a sharp five-furlong workout of 1:02.60 breezing on Dec. 16. Lentenor is 2-for-11 lifetime, with two seconds and three thirds. His most recent victory came July 31 in a mile-and-70-yard turf race at PARX Racing in Philadelphia. As a 3-year-old in 2010, Lentenor finished fourth in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream.

Lentenor was bred by Barbaro’s owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, as Mr. and Mrs. M. Roy Jackson and is owned by the couple’s Lael Stables. Leigh Delacour trains Lentenor, who will be ridden by Luis Garcia.

Lentenor is not eligible to be claimed. Among his challengers Friday are multiple stakes winner Riversrunrylee and Beckham Bend, second in a Gulfstream stakes in April. The race offers $21,400.

Barbaro, who won the hearts of the Thoroughbred community and horse lovers for his dominating Kentucky Derby triumph and his courageous struggle to live after suffering a devastating injury in the Preakness, was foaled four years before Lentenor.

Barbaro’s Derby victory was his sixth in six starts. After breaking through the gate prematurely and reloading for the Preakness, he broke down soon after the start, fracturing three bones in and around the fetlock of his right hind leg and suffering further extensive damage.

The Jacksons sent Barbaro to the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania, where Dr. Dean Richardson undertook the massive task of rehabilitation. Ultimately, however, Barbaro developed laminitis in three legs and was euthanized in January of 2007.

Another full brother to Lentenor and Barbaro, 5-year-old Nicanor, has won four times in 16 starts.

The Pick 5 was not hit Thursday, creating a carryover of $47,259.34 into Friday’s card. Most Pick 5 bettors fell by the wayside when 54-1 shot Starlighter, trained by Steven Dye and ridden by Rafael Medina, Jr., romped to victory in the seventh race in 1:11.1 for six furlongs. Starlighter paid $111 to win.

Starlighter made his first start as a 2-year-old at Saratoga under trainer Bill Mott. The 4-year-old had since raced exclusively at Camarero Race Track in Puerto Rico, winning once in 12 starts this year.

Post time for the first race Friday is 12:25 p.m. Live racing then resumes Weds., Dec. 28, continuing through Sat., Dec. 31. Tampa Bay Downs is open every day except Dec. 25 for simulcasting, no-limits card games in the Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at the Downs Golf Practice Facility. The first day of live racing in 2012 is Weds., Jan. 4, followed by live racing cards Jan. 6-8.